Apparatus and method for dissolving gases in a beverage

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an apparatus for dissolving gases in a beverage, the apparatus including a product conduit that is fluidly communicable with a product supply and a product dispenser, a gas conduit configured to transport gas from a gas supply to the product conduit, the gas conduit including at least one flow control mechanism; and at least one additional gas conduit configured to transport an additional gas from at least one additional gas supply to the product conduit, the gas conduit including an additional flow control mechanism.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and method fordissolving gases in a beverage, and more particularly to an apparatusand method for dissolving two or more gases in a beverage.

BACKGROUND

Many beverages require certain levels of gases to be dissolved in atleast one constituent liquids prior to dispense in order to achieve thedesired taste and or presentation effects in the final beverage.Examples of such beverages include carbonated juices, sodas, and thelike.

In certain applications, it is desirable to dissolve two or more gases(such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide) into these beverages. In thecurrent state of the art, this dissolving is facilitated by blending thetwo or more gases at a system position located upstream of controlvalves and coriolis flow meters designed to accurately dissolve thegases into a beverage. However, under such a system, it can be difficultto accurately control the desirable concentrations or ratios of theindividual gases that are to be dissolved into the beverage. This isbecause movement of gases with different diffusion rates into thebeverage can be difficult to control using control valves and mass flowmeters located only at positions downstream of gas blending. Such adifficulty can of course result in inaccurate gas ratios within thebeverage. In addition, it can be difficult to independently regulate thepressure and volume of each gas entering the beverage after the gasesare blended. As such difficulties can effect amounts of the gasesdissolved into the beverage, this can also result in inaccurate gasratios within the beverage. These difficulties can cause further issuesin employing various modern smart technologies that allow gas injectionsto be automatically adjusted according to individually desirable ratios.

Accordingly, an apparatus capable of more accurately controlling entryof different gases into a beverage at individually appropriate ratioswould be desirable.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is an apparatus for dissolving gases in a beverage, theapparatus including a product conduit that is fluidly communicable witha product supply and a product dispenser, a gas conduit configured totransport gas from a gas supply to the product conduit, the gas conduitincluding at least one flow control mechanism; and at least oneadditional gas conduit configured to transport an additional gas from atleast one additional gas supply to the product conduit, the gas conduitincluding an additional flow control mechanism.

Also disclosed is a method for dissolving gases in a beverage, themethod including creating a product flow from a product supply to aproduct dispenser via a product conduit, regulating flow of a gas intothe product conduit via a control mechanism associated with a gasconduit configured to transport the gas to the product conduit,regulating flow of an additional gas into the product conduit via anadditional control mechanism associated with an additional gas conduitconfigured to transport the additional gas to the product conduit.

Additionally disclosed is a system for dissolving gases in a beverage,the system including a product supply tank, a product dispenser, aproduct conduit that fluidly communicates the product supply tank withthe product dispenser, a gas conduit configured to transport gas from agas supply to the product conduit, the gas conduit including at leastone control mechanism, and at least one additional gas conduitconfigured to transport an additional gas from at least one additionalgas supply to the product conduit, the gas conduit including anadditional control mechanism.

Further disclosed is an apparatus for dissolving gases in a beverage,the apparatus including a beverage conduit that is fluidly communicablewith a beverage supply and a beverage dispenser, a first gas conduitconfigured to transport a first gas from a first gas supply to thebeverage conduit, said first gas conduit including a first flow controlmechanism, and a second gas conduit configured to transport a second gasfrom a second gas supply to the beverage conduit, the second gas conduitincluding a second flow control mechanism, wherein the beveragedispenser dispenses a liquid beverage for human consumption containingthe first and second gasses, and wherein the apparatus comprises onlytwo gas conduits.

DRAWINGS

Referring now to the Figures, exemplary embodiments are illustrated,wherein the elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system for dissolving gas intoa beverage in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the system for dissolving gasinto a beverage in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a system 10 for dissolving gases into a beverage isillustrated in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In thisembodiment, the product receiving the gases is a liquid, such as aliquid beverage. The system includes an apparatus 12 (shown within theborder labeled 12), which itself includes a product conduit 14 thatfluidly communicates product supply elements (generally labeled 16) withproduct filler or dispenser elements (generally labeled 18). Productwithin the various product supply conduits and tanks 16 will be referredto herein as raw product in the sense that it is not inclusive of gasesthat will eventually be dissolved therein. Such gases are dissolved intothe product during a flow thereof from the supply 16 to the dispenser 18via the conduit 14. The various apparatus elements employed to transportand dissolve the gases into the product will be discussed hereinbelow.

Referring to FIG. 1, the supply elements 16 are schematicallyillustrated. The supply elements 16 may include a syrup supply and watersupply, as well as a water tank, syrup tank, and mix tank. Thesesupplies, tanks, various conduits that connect them, and various pumpsand valves disposed therewith, are configured to mix the water andsyrup, and transport it as raw product to the product conduit 14. In theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, this raw product is transported to theproduct conduit 14 via connecting conduit 16 a.

As shown in FIG. 1, the product conduit 14 is the system conduit intowhich the raw product, and the gases to be diffused therein, flows. Gasenters the product conduit 14 via gas inlet 22, which creates a fluidlycommunicable point of entry between the product conduit 14 and gasconduit(s) of the system 10. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1,gases are transported to this inlet 22 as described below.

The system 10 includes a first gas (carbon dioxide in this embodiment)and a second gas (nitrous oxide in this embodiment), though any numberof additional of gases of any desirable kind may be transported withinthe system 10 and apparatus 12. For convenience and ease ofunderstanding, these different gases will simply be referred to as thefirst gas and the second gas. The first gas flows from an appropriategas supply 21 a (carbon dioxide in this exemplarity embodiment) to ablend conduit 23 via a first gas conduit 20 a. Similarly, the second gasflows from an appropriate gas supply 21 b (nitrous oxide in thisexemplarity embodiment) to the blend conduit 23 via a second gas conduit20 b. It should be noted that pressure in the gas conduits 20 a and 20 bimmediately downstream from the gas supplies 21 a and 21 b isapproximately 200 psi. This pressure is reduced at the pressure reducingstations to about 95-115 psi, and remains as such at least untilentering the blend conduit 23.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the first and second gas conduits 20 a alsoinclude a gas proportional flow control valves 26. These valves 26,which may be any type controllable valve, such as a pneumatic ormechanical driven valve or pump, which can adjust the flow upon receiptof a control signal. An example of such a valve is manufactured byCherry-Burrell Company of Delavan, Wis. As shown in FIG. 1, these valves26 are located upstream of the blend conduit 23, and may be linked toand controlled by controller/control system 28, such as microprocessors(linked to each other via connection 29 in FIG. 1) or other computingresource(s). This control allows individual, manual or automatic (i.e.software inspired) control of gas volume to be injected into the blendconduit 23 from each gas conduit 20 a and 20 b. This control system 28accordingly allows for injection of the first and second gases into theblend conduit 23 at any individually desirable volumes that may becalculated.

It should be appreciated that the control system 28 may operate undervarious methods (or combinations thereof) for adjusting blending of abeverage and gas flow therein. Such methods, and thecalculations/equations used in these methods, are discussed in Gibney,et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,171. This Gibney, et al. patent is hereinincorporated by reference. The adaptation of the present invention tooperate along with Gibney type methods and teachings is contemplated tobe within the skill of the art.

It should also be noted that each gas conduit 20 a and 20 b is shown tobe equipped with a mass flow meter 30. These flow meters 30 arestructured in accordance with any mass flow meters known in the art,such as but not limited to the Coriolis mass flow meters 30 shown inFIG. 1. Coriolis-type mass flow meters are contemplated because of theirhigh accuracy in determining the mass flow rate and total mass flow of afluid without reference to the temperature or viscosity of the fluid.The size and operational capabilities of meters 30 will depend uponvarious factors such as flow rate.

As is also shown in FIG. 1, these flow meters 30 are disposed on eachconduit 20 a and 20 b in a position upstream of the blend conduit 23.Such individual regulation is beneficial in that it allows separatecontrol of first and second gas amounts that will ultimately travel intothe blend conduit 23 and product conduit 14 to be dissolved into theproduct at desirable proportions. The mass flow meters 30 may also belinked to the control system 28 in order to control the maintenance andregulation discussed above.

After entering the blend conduit 23, the now blended first and secondgases are transported to the product conduit 14. The gases enter theproduct conduit 14 and at least begin the process of diffusion into theproduct running therethrough via inlet 22. It should be appreciated thatthese inlets may be structured to inject gas into a product containingconduit (such as conduit 14) in accordance with any inlet mechanism ordiffuser known in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, a porous metal 24(such as a steel sintered sparger with microscopic openings) that actsto facilitate diffusion may be disposed proximate the inlet 22. Thismetal 24 may be disposed within the blend conduit 23 (just outside theinlets) or within the inlet 22 itself.

The blended gas passes into the product conduit 14 (through the inlet22) and at least begins to diffuse into the raw product flowingtherethrough due to maintenance of the gas pressure above a saturationpressure of the raw product. By maintaining, the gas at this higherpressure, the blended gas can be completely diffused into the product.In an exemplary embodiment, the gas pressures in the blend conduit 23and gas conduits 20 a and 20 b are maintained above 90 psi, while thepressure in the product conduit 14 is below 80 psi.

The product conduit 14 may further be equipped with at least one staticmixer. Static mixers are structured in accordance with any gas diffusingmixers known in the art. Such mixers, if employed, may act to furtherfacilitate diffusion of the first and second gas into the productflowing through the product conduit 14.

Product with the blended gas diffused therein is transported downstreamfrom the product conduit to the dispenser elements 18 of the system 10.These elements 18 include a heat exchanger or chiller 18 a, a throttlevalve 18 b (connected to the product conduit 14 via connecting conduit18 c), and container filling mechanisms (not illustrated) associatedwith a product tank. Pressure in the product conduit is about 45 to 80psi just upstream of the product tank.

It should be appreciated that an exemplary embodiment of the system 10may also employ various other valve mechanisms disposed along the gasconduits 20 a and 20 b and blend conduit 23. These valves may includecutout valves 40, and spring loaded check valves 44, such as those shownin FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the system 10 for dissolving gases into aproduct is illustrated in accordance with another exemplary embodiment.As is shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 12 again includes two gas conduits20 a and 20 b. However, in this embodiment, the two gas conduits 20 aand 20 b are each disposed in separate fluid communication with theproduct conduit 14 via separate gas inlets 22 a and 22 b defined by theconduit 14. Each of these gas conduits 20 a and 20 b are connected toseparate gas supplies (not shown in FIGS. 2), which supply the gases tobe transported to, and eventually dissolved into, the product flowingthrough the product conduit 14. Each connected gas supply contains adifferent gas. In an exemplary embodiment, these different gases areagain carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, which will again be hereafterreferred to a first gas and a second gas. The first gas is supplied tothe conduit 14 via gas conduit 20 a, and the second gas is supplied tothe conduit via gas conduit 20 b. It should be noted that while two gasconduits 20 a and 20 b and two gases are shown and discussed in theFigures and description of this Application, this two gas two conduitconfiguration is merely exemplary. The apparatus 12 may of course beconfigured to include an essentially unlimited number of gas conduits(and gases transported therein) disposed to communicate with the productconduit 14.

Referring now to the inlets 22 a and 22 b mentioned briefly above, itshould be appreciated that these inlets may be structured to inject gasinto a product containing conduit (such as conduit 14) in accordancewith any inlet mechanism known in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, aporous metal 24 (such as a steel sintered sparger with microscopicopenings) that acts to facilitate diffusion may be disposed proximatethe inlet 22. This metal 24 may be disposed within each of the gasconduits 20 a and 20 b (just outside the inlets) or within the inlet 22itself.

The blended gas passes into the product conduit 14 (through the inlets22 a and 22 b) and at least begins to diffuse into the raw productflowing therethrough due to maintenance of the gas pressure above asaturation pressure of the raw product. By maintaining, the gas at thishigher pressure, the blended gas can be completely diffused into theproduct.

Similarly to that which is shown in FIG. 1 (and discussed in relationthereto), each gas conduit 20 a and 20 b includes gas proportion controlvalves 26. These control valves 26 may again be linked to a controlsystem 28, such as a microprocessors (which may be linked) or othercomputing resource, that allows individual, manual or automatic (i.e.software inspired) control of gas volume to be injected into the productconduit 14 from each gas conduit 20 a and 20 b. This control system 28accordingly allows for injection of the first and second gases into theproduct conduit 14 at individually desirable proportions.

Each gas conduit 20 a and 20 b is also equipped with mass flow meters30, which are again similar to that which is shown in FIG. 1 (anddiscussed in relation thereto). These mass flow meters 30 individuallymeasure gas flow rate flowing through each of the gas conduits 20 a and20 b, which aids in regulating and maintaining gas pressure within thesegas conduits 20 a and 20 b. Such individual regulation is beneficial inthat it allows separate control of first and second gas amounts thatwill ultimately be dissolved into the product at desirable proportions.

As shown in FIG. 2, the product conduit 14 may further be equipped withat least one static mixer 32. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary position of thestatic mixers 32 relative to the gas conduits 20 a and 20 b, wherein amixer 32 is disposed just downstream of each inlet 22 a and 22 b. Itshould be noted however that alternate positions for these mixers 32(and absence of the mixers 32 all together) are contemplated in thissystem 10. These alternate positions include, but are not limited to, asingle mixer 32 disposed downstream of both inlets 22 a and 22 b.

It should be appreciated that, in an exemplary embodiment, the first andsecond gases include a substantially similar solubility relative to theproduct flowing through the product conduit 14. Further, with referenceto FIG. 2, it should be appreciated that gas conduits 20 a and 20 b maybe optionally equipped with a blending conduit 36, which is configuredto fluidly communicate gas conduit 20 a with gas conduit 20 b at aposition disposed upstream of the inlets 22 a and 22 b, but downstreamof the control valves 26 and mass flow meters 30.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. An apparatus for dissolving gases in a beverage, the apparatuscomprising: a product conduit that is fluidly communicable with aproduct supply and a product dispenser; a gas conduit configured totransport gas from a gas supply to said product conduit, said gasconduit including at least one flow control mechanism; and at least oneadditional gas conduit configured to transport an additional gas from atleast one additional gas supply to said product conduit, said gasconduit including an additional flow control mechanism.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said gas conduit and said at least one additionalgas conduit fluidly communicate with said product conduit via at leastone inlet defined by said product conduit.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said gas conduit and said at least one additional gas conduitfluidly communicate such that the gas and additional gas blend at ablending point disposed upstream of a gas inlet, said flow controlmechanism and said additional flow control mechanism being disposedupstream of said blending point.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid gas conduit is in fluid communication with said product conduit viaan inlet defined by said product conduit and wherein said at least oneadditional gas conduit is in fluid communication with said productconduit via at least one additional inlet defined by said productconduit.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said product conduit isdisposed with at least one static mixer, said static mixer beingdisposed downstream of said at least one inlet.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein a porous metal is disposed proximate said at least oneinlet.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said porous metal is asintered sparger.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said flow controlmechanism and said additional flow control mechanism a gas proportioncontrol valve and an additional control valve, said gas proportioncontrol valve and said additional control valve being communication witha control system.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said controlsystem is a computing resource.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid flow control mechanism and said additional flow control mechanismare a mass flow meter and additional mass flow meter, said mass flowmeter and said additional mass flow meter being configured for at leastone of regulation and maintenance of gas pressure within said gasconduit and said at least one additional gas conduit.
 11. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said gas supply and additional gas supply containdifferent gases.
 12. A method for dissolving gases in a beverage, themethod comprising: creating a product flow from a product supply to aproduct dispenser via a product conduit; regulating flow of a gas intosaid product conduit via a control mechanism associated with a gasconduit configured to transport said gas to said product conduit;regulating flow of an additional gas into said product conduit via anadditional control mechanism associated with an additional gas conduitconfigured to transport said additional gas to said product conduit. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein said regulating of said gas flow andsaid additional gas flow includes regulating ratio of said gas to saidadditional gas flowing into said product conduit via a gas proportioncontrol valve and an additional control valve, said gas proportioncontrol valve and said additional control valve being communication witha control system.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said regulating ofsaid gas flow and said additional gas flow includes regulating andmaintaining pressure within said gas conduit and said additional gasconduit via a mass flow meter and additional mass flow meter.
 15. Themethod of claim 12, further comprising: injecting said gas into saidproduct conduit via an inlet defined by said product conduit; andinjecting said additional gas flow into said product conduit via atleast one additional inlet defined by said product conduit.
 16. A systemfor dissolving gases in a beverage, the system comprising: a productsupply tank; a product dispenser; a product conduit that fluidlycommunicates said product supply tank with said product dispenser; a gasconduit configured to transport gas from a gas supply to said productconduit, said gas conduit including at least one control mechanism; andat least one additional gas conduit configured to transport anadditional gas from at least one additional gas supply to said productconduit, said gas conduit including an additional control mechanism. 17.An apparatus for dissolving gases in a beverage, the apparatuscomprising: a beverage conduit that is fluidly communicable with abeverage supply and a beverage dispenser; a first gas conduit configuredto transport a first gas from a first gas supply to said beverageconduit, said first gas conduit including a first flow controlmechanism; and a second gas conduit configured to transport a second gasfrom a second gas supply to said beverage conduit, said second gasconduit including a second flow control mechanism; wherein the beveragedispenser dispenses a liquid beverage for human consumption containingthe first and second gasses; and wherein the apparatus comprises onlytwo gas conduits.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first gasand the second gas are the same gas.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17,wherein the first gas and the second gas are different gases.